System, method, and apparatus for command and control of remote instrumentation

Abstract

A remote instrument control and reporting system utilizes a host communication gateway based on hardware and software that interfaces with a field device, remote terminal unit, or control system that operates across multiple communications infrastructures to a common back end data delivery system. This design allows Modbus hosts or similar SCADA polled technologies, such as a field bus that utilizes various industrial protocols to control instruments at and acquire instrumentation data from physically isolated installations. In particular, this design is well suited for applications such as oil well electrical submersible pumps. The data is communicated through, for example, a low Earth orbit satellite into a host communications gateway that simulates within a host computer environment the same polling registers that the data was collected from in the remote locations.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present invention relates in general to monitoring and controlling remote equipment and, in particular, to an improved system, method, and apparatus for command and control of electrical submersible pumps in oil wells via a host communication gateway to interface with a field device, remote terminal unit, or other instrumentation that operates across multiple communications infrastructures to a common back end data delivery system.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The need for cost-effectively monitoring and controlling remotely-located oil wells has always been a challenge to the oil industry. Fortunately, recent technological innovations have significantly increased the efficiency with which such operations are managed. For example, a conventional or baseline installation incorporating a graphic motor switchboard or drive control system (GCS) 11 is shown in FIG. 1. In this installation illustrated, the GCS 11 ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a low-cost system that allows for global remote control and reporting of instruments. It uses a host communication gateway that interfaces with a field device or control system that operates across multiple communication infrastructures. The system is designed to be easily installed and used with various Modbus or similar technologies. The data collected from remote locations is communicated through a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite into the host computer environment, and commands and other data can be sent from the host to the remote locations. The technical effects of this invention include improved efficiency, cost savings, and flexibility in instrument control and data acquisition.

Problems solved by technology

The need for cost-effectively monitoring and controlling remotely-located oil wells has always been a challenge to the oil industry.

However, this type of network topology does not lend itself well to the global communications (e.g., satellite) networks, and does not take full advantage of or leverage a TCP / IP based network infrastructure such as, for example, GEO VSAT, etc.

Other limitations of this conventional Modbus poll / response network include: using the higher than necessary bandwidth, incapacity to be event driven, exclusively using the network medium, and being unable to offer authentication or encryption services.

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